Waiting in line: That was then... This is now.

October 7, 2003, Simi Valley

In Simi Valley, in 2003, people camped out for the chance to buy a yet-unbuilt condo for about $300,000.
Photo Credit: Bob Carey, L.A.Times

July 14, 2008, Pasadena

In Pasadena today, depositors line up to take their money out of IndyMac Federal bank on its first day of operation as a federally-run bank.
Photo Credit: Al Seib, L.A. Times

Hat tip: Commenter Buz, who wrote of today's IndyMac picture, "Reminds me of the lines that used to form outside new housing developments a few years ago. People literally camped out overnight to be first in line..."

Photo of the Day: When construction jobs disappear

This picture shows idle construction trailers in the Inland Empire. It's a snapshot from Sandler O'Neill & Partners analyst Aaron Deer's recent tour of the I.E.

News item from the L.A. Times today: According to today's report on the job market, "the construction sector was among the hardest-hit parts of the economy, losing 43,000 jobs" in June.

Note: Because the Inland Empire is a center of California's booming logistics industry -- which includes warehousing -- it's likely that these trailers reflect a construction slowdown far beyond the I.E.

Your thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com.
Photo: Sandler O'Neill & Partners

Pricey on Pico: $4.75 a gallon in West L.A.

I'm seeing a lot of $4.29's on the Westside, but I saw this one this morning at the corner of Pico and Barrington. That's some expensive gasoline. There must be something special in it.

Your thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com
Photo Credit: L.A. Land

The bright side: Gas is still under $4.40 a gallon

Just a note: I started publishing gas price photos back on April 25, when I passed the station pictured above, which is on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica. At the time, regular was $4.09 a gallon. I drove by again today, and you see the result: up 30 cents in a month. It may not get your attention, but it's got mine.

Your thoughts? Comments? Upload your gas photos to the Pain at the Pump gallery in Your Scene at LATimes.com.

$4.69 a gallon, a new high* for L.A. Land

Closing in on five bucks at the corner of Fairfax and Melrose, though I have to admit I'm not familiar with the PRENA gasoline company. I say it's a new high* with an asterisk because, technically, I've published higher ($5.27 in Death Valley), but that wasn't Metro L.A. If you see higher than $4.69, send it to the link below, I'll publish it.

Submitted by SoCal4Hillary to the Pain at the Pump gallery on Your Scene at latimes.com.

Photo of the Day

Kristin took this photo in Death Valley recently. Because it's Death Valley, it doesn't really count, but it does set a new upper limit for prices. For now. Send your gas station photos to the Pain at the Pump gallery at Your Scene at LATimes.com.  The current record high for metro L.A. is $4.29 a gallon.

Bypassed in Brentwood: $4.19 a gallon

Saw this on Friday night, and whipped out the little camera because this is the highest I've seen: $4.19 a gallon, At 26th Street and San Vicente, in Brentwood.

Are rising gas prices an important regional economic story? It's sure beginning to look that way. It sure got me on the bus twice last week.

Submit your photo of high prices -- or low prices, or weird signage, whatever -- to the Pain at the Pump photo gallery in Your Scene at  LATimes.com.

Your thoughts? Comments? E-mail story tips to peter.viles@latimes.com.
Photo Credit: L.A. Land

Picture of the day: the Big Kahuna of foreclosure sales

That's Hermosa Beach-based Leo Nordine, Big Wave Surfer, King of Foreclosure Sales and the Hardest-Working Man in Flip-Flops, riding a big one. 

What does this have to do with real estate?  Nada.  But Leo does sell more foreclosed houses than just about anyone.

Leo tells me he caught this wave on Dec. 5 at Redondo Breakwater. "It was actually bigger when I took off," he adds.

Photo Credit: Leo Nordine

Photo of the Day: She's real fine, my $4.09

I didn't go looking for expensive gas this morning, it found me, on Lincoln Boulevard in Santa Monica. What does it have to do with housing and the economy? Not much if you live in Manhattan and take the subway to work. A lot of you live in Southern California and drive everywhere.

As always, send your best housing, real estate, foreclosure and random photos to Your Scene at LATimes.com.

Photo of the day: No work, don't ask

Photo of the Day: Pseudo 100 submits this shot of McMansionus interruptus. Work stopped in August, but a new sign went up recently to scare off the pesky -- and hopeful -- day laborers. Thanks, Pseudo. Comments? Send story tips and photos of peter.viles@latimes.com.

On Memory Lane: When housing was hot

Picture of the Day comes from Back in the Day: This L.A. Times photo from 2003 shows people camped out for the chance to buy yet-unbuilt condos in Simi Valley for about $300,000.

Comments? Insights? Email story tips, and photos, to peter.viles@latimes.com.